Sources of the UK Constitution

• Constitutional Conventions

  • PM conducts foreign policy.
  • PM appoints and dismisses ministers.
  • Salisbury Convention in the House of Lords.
  • PM grants knighthoods and honours.
• Statute Law

  • Consists of Acts of Parliament.
  • Human Rights Act 1998.
  • Parliament Act 1949.
  • All statute law has the same status, can be repealed or passed by a simple vote of parliament.
• Historical Principles and Authoritative Writings

  • Sovereignty of Parliament attributed to Blackstone.
  • The Rule of Law attributed to A.V. Dicey.
  • Equal rights for citizens.
  • Walter Bagehot's 'The English Constitution'.
  • The O'Donnell rules of 2010 establish how a coalition should form.
• Common Law

  • Development of law through historical usage and tradition.
  • Concerns protection of rights and freedoms.
  • The courts have been keen to defend rights such as free movement and public protest.
  • Common Law often invoked by courts to address grievances by citizens against the government.
  • Examples; prerogative powers of the PM; commanding the armed forces; calling general elections; making appointments to the government.